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When is criticizing Israel antisemitism?
Is it easier to be antisemitic today? Tragically, yes, says Israeli-American actor and activist Noa Tishby, who served as Israel’s Special Envoy for Combating Antisemitism before Prime Minister Netanyahu dismissed her for speaking out against his controversial judicial reform agenda. She joins Ian Bremmer on GZERO World for a wide-ranging conversation on the ancient roots and modern resurgence of anti-Jewish sentiment. And it's not just coming from the right, says Tishby.
"It's totally fine to criticize Israeli politicians, Israeli policies, whatever.. But there's a strong sense in the political left right now, more accepted than it used to be, of denying Israel's right to exist," says Tishby. "Where it used to be, 'Let's just rid the world of the Jew and everything's gonna be fine.' Right? Nobody says that in a polite society today, but what they do say is, "Let's just rid the world of the Jewish State, and then everything will be fine."
Watch GZERO World with Ian Bremmer at gzeromedia.com/gzeroworld or on US public television. Check local listings.
Antisemitism is more prevalent than ever, warns activist Noa Tishby
Antisemitism is ancient. Antisemitism is modern. And lately, it's been on the rise. The Anti-Defamation League found 3,700 instances of antisemitic harassment, vandalism, or assault around the country last year, the highest number in its 43 years of tracking.
"Antisemitism is the oldest form of hate and discrimination that is still being practiced today," says Israeli-American actor and activist Noa Tishby, who served as Israel’s Special Envoy for Combating Antisemitism before Prime Minister Netanyahu dismissed her for speaking out against his controversial judicial reform agenda. "What's happening is that it's so prevalent, it's so pervasive, it's everywhere in our society, but for some reason people don't give it as much attention."
Tishby joins Ian Bremmer on GZERO World for a wide-ranging discussion about the startling rise in anti-Jewish sentiment today. And nowhere, Tishby says, is antisemitism more prevalent in modern culture than on social media. "I do believe that to some extent, the Jews and Israel are patient zero with this."
Watch the GZERO World episode: Modern antisemitism on the rise
And watch GZERO World with Ian Bremmer every week at gzeromedia.com/gzeroworld or on US public television. Check local listings.
Modern antisemitism on the rise
Antisemitism is nothing new. An ancient Greek historian in the second century BCE railed against the “ridiculous practices” of the Jews and the “absurdity of their law.”
But lately, it feels like an ugly trend is back in fashion. And the numbers back that up. The Anti-Defamation League found 3,700 instances of antisemitic harassment, vandalism, or assault around the country last year, the highest number in its 43 years of tracking. And then there was the horrific attack at Pittsburgh’s Tree of Life synagogue in 2018, which killed 11 people and remains the deadliest attack on the Jewish community in the United States.
At what point do extremist politics—whether on the Right OR Left—become hate? And where do you draw the line between criticizing Israeli policies and being antisemitic? To help Ian Bremmer wade through these difficult questions is the Israeli actress, writer, and activist Noa Tishby. She served as Israel’s Special Envoy for Combating Antisemitism before Prime Minister Netanyahu dismissed her for speaking out against his controversial judicial reform agenda.
And later, an early look at a new film about one of Israel’s most controversial leaders (present Prime Minister excluded). Golda Meir, Israel's first and still only female prime minister, was beloved until her handling of the Yom Kippur War of 1973. Now a new film starring Helen Mirren tries to reframe her tarnished legacy.
Watch GZERO World with Ian Bremmer every week at gzeromedia.com/gzeroworld or on US public television. Check local listings.
Podcast: Antisemitism's tragic persistence
Listen: Delve into a thought-provoking conversation that confronts the unsettling resurgence of antisemitism, tracing its historical roots and contemporary manifestations. A recent report from the Anti-Defamation League documents 3,700 instances of antisemitic harassment, vandalism, and assault— including the heart-wrenching attack at Pittsburgh's Tree of Life synagogue in 2018, a grim reminder of the deadliest assault on the Jewish community in the United States — and paints a troubling broader picture of modern antisemitism around the world.
Sitting down with Ian Bremmer on the GZERO World Podcast is Noa Tishby, an Israeli actress, writer, and activist who previously held the role of Israel's Special Envoy for Combating Antisemitism. She is no stranger to controversy, having taken a principled stand against her nation's controversial judicial reform agenda. She shares her unique perspective about the history and causes of antisemitism and how it connects to Israel's right to exist and its identity. The discussion turns to the contentious boundary between critiquing Israeli policies and crossing into antisemitism, and also addresses a crucial question—when does the spectrum of extremist politics morph into hate?
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